KCS railroad eyes freight customers in Monroe, La.

Kansas City Southern
Railway has Monroe, La., and northeastern Louisiana on its radar because of the
V-Vehicle Co. plant and the Franklin Farms Megasite in Richland Parish, The
News Star reports.

"It was gratifying to learn
that Kansas City Southern's leadership has Monroe and northeast Louisiana on
its radar," Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said after a visit with company officials
in Kansas City, Mo. Mayo, District 1 Councilman Jay Marx and city engineer
Sinyale Morrison met with KCS's chairman Mike Haverty, president and chief
executive officer David Starling and KCS board member Rodney Slater.

Slater, who was President
Bill Clinton's Secretary of Transportation, set up the meeting. Slater now
works for the Washington, D.C.. lobbying firm that represents the city,
Ouachita Parish Police Jury and the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.

Mayo said the group
showed them a short presentation the company had put together on V-Vehicle and
the state's Megasite. "Their whole executive team was at the meeting and we had
open discussions about these two sites. They have us on the map for economic
development."

Also a part of Haverty's Power
Point presentation included the downtown quiet zone and a proposed quiet zone
from Booth Street to Chennault Park. After years of negotiations, closing
streets, installing gates and lights at crossings, the city was awarded in
November a quiet zone through downtown Monroe where KCS freight trains no
longer use their screaming whistles.

The group had a discussion
on extending the quiet zone possibly as far as Chennault Park because of
complaints about the train whistles from people staying at the Holiday Inn
Hotel and Suites at U.S. 165 and Milhaven Road and the Residence Inn at
Pecanland Mall.

"They're talking more
gates and lights at other crossings and we discussed improvements to the Powell
Street crossing where they installed a second track and it's not level with the
other," Mayo said. He said vehicles crossing at Powell Street have to ease
across the tracks to prevent damage.

Mayo said KCS officials
also agreed to have one of its engineers help with the "Bring the Train Back"
project at Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo.

"They're doing that as a
good corporate citizen," the mayor said. Marx said the two-day trip (Wednesday
and Thursday) was important to the city and KCS.

"I am confident this
opportunity will lead to a bigger and better partnership," he said.

"We have been working
with KCS for quite some time. However, it is always a great opportunity when
you can put a name with a face. The success of these meetings will be when more
action is taken as some of the goals discussed are implemented," Morrison said
of the meeting.

Mayo said a major purpose
of the meeting was to build a stronger professional relationship.